Receiving Aid
How will you receive your financial aid?
Whether you're a prospective student or a current one, understanding the award letter, the Direct Loan process, financial aid refunds, and other crucial aspects of financial aid is essential. Explore the resources below to ensure you're equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to successfully secure the financial support you deserve.
Financial Aid Notification (FAN)
Your electronic financial aid notifications (FAN) is your official notice of financial aid eligibility. The FAN is usually available on a rolling basis beginning in June. The student is notified via email (from the campus system) if a new/revised FAN is available. You can access your FAN by logging onto MyUCLA.
Loan Procedure
Accept the loan on your FAN
If you would like to borrow less then the loan amount offered, indicate the amount you want to borrow in the space provided on the FAN. If you do not need all of the loans offered on your FAN, borrow the maximum (lower cost) Direct Unsubsidized Loan first before reducing or declining the Direct Grad PLUS loan.
Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), if you are a first time borrower
You must complete an MPN the first time you borrow a Direct Loan. Once completed, the Direct Loan MPN is valid for 10 years, so continuing borrowers do not have to complete one each year. Go to www.StudentAid.gov if you are required to complete your Master Promissory Note.
Complete a Debt Management Session (DMS), if you are a first time borrower at UCLA
If you are borrowing a Direct Unsubsidized Loan for the first time at UCLA, you are required to complete a Debt Management Session with the Student Loan Office. Go to www.loans.ucla.edu to complete your DMS. If you have any questions about this requirement, please contact the Student Loan Office at 310-825-9864.
Nursing Student Loan
If you are awarded a Nursing Student Loan and accept the loan on your FAN, you will receive an email with instructions on completing your online University Loan Promissory Note/paperwork within 7-10 business. This online paperwork must be completed before the loan will disburse.
BruinBill and BruinDirect
Once you accept your awards on the FAN, complete the necessary loan paperwork and required debt management counseling, your financial aid will disburse as early as 10 days before the start of each semester.
BruinBill
BruinBill allows debits (educational fees and other charges) and credits (financial aid disbursements or student payments) to be applied to your school account. Through BruinBill, your financial aid disbursements will automatically pay your registration fees and other outstanding University bills at the beginning of each semester. If you are not enrolled, financial aid will not be credited to your account. Your BruinBill statement will be available via MyUCLA (https://my.ucla.edu/) each month. Please make sure that you review the activity in your account at least once a month.
Financial Aid Refunds
Any remaining financial aid, after semester charges on the BruinBill are paid in full, will be refunded to you to pay for your living and other educational expenses. Your financial aid refund will be deposited in your personal bank account, if you sign up for BruinDirect (see below). Refund checks will be mailed to students who do not sign up for BruinDirect.
BruinDirect
If you sign up for BruinDirect, your refund will be transferred electronically to your personal BruinDirect bank account. If your award is processed in a timely manner, your financial aid refund will be deposited in your account before the first day of classes. You can request BruinDirect online through BruinBill via MyUCLA.
Disbursement of Outside Scholarships
Students receiving outside scholarships should request that the awarding agency make the checks payable to: UC Regents.
Checks should be mailed / forwarded to:
Payment Solutions & Compliance Office
University of California, Los Angeles
Box 957089, 1125 Murphy Hall
405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7089
Checks received from an outside agency are typically applied to BruinBill within 5-7 business days.